Axe, machete or billhook...

[PaulSanderson]

Hi all,

In a bid to lighten up my daypack somewhat im considering swapping out my GB splitting axe for something, well, lighter.

My GB is fantastic, dont get me wrong, but all i use it for is literally splitting down firewood...and very occasionally roughing out a spoon/bowl/kuksa blank. I must emphasise the "occasionally"... i always carry a bow saw or a foldable saw as well as my axe.

I have been drawn to the parang/machete/billhook tools - but know nothing about them at all...here's where you learned folk come in...

What would you recommend for general trekking/camp duties? What are the benefits and disadvantages of these edged tools over an axe? Could i feasibly split down firewood with any of these alternatives?

Cheers in advance!!
Paul.

 

[MikeLA]

I just carry a knife and a fold saw but if had to choose for you either a bigger camp knife or a parangI have used in the past

 

[Jimmy Bojangles]

I think tomahawks give the best performance to weight ratio, mine is just over 500g with a 20" handle and chops and splits everything I need for a camp fire. I've actually given up taking my folding saw as it never gets used now.

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Out of interest, what tomahawk do you use Jimmy?

 

[British Red]

I use all three tools depending on the task in hand. I don't need any of them for a day walk.

 

[PaulSanderson]

Cheers for the replies guys...

Jimmy - can you carve with the tomahawk??

 

[Countryman]

I'm going to make an admission here that may get me jeered at.

I dumped my GB Axe in favour of a BG Parang. I find I'm more accurate with it and it does an amazing job round camp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Disco1]

Your in good company Lofty Wiseman prefers the parang as well

 

[ateallthepies]

I think a knife, Laplander and small hatchet are perfect for general camp tasks. I wanted a very small hatchet for processing kindling and carving, something very easily packable.

I bought a Condor Scout Hatchet but didn't like the steel, size also was a fraction too large. I'm bidding on a tiny vintage camp axe head that I will mod to what I want, something around a pound in weight but super sharp!

 

[dwardo]

As above all different tools for different tasks. Each one will do the others work but poorly.
Once tried a few trips with the hook only and missed my axe.
The last on my list would be the machete unless I am clearing a load of brush or similar. Even then there are better tools for our native flora.

 

[ateallthepies]

Won the small axe I was on about, £13 delivered!

 

[PaulSanderson]

13 quid - bargain! For the size of the wood I'm processing for firewood, I'm hoping the parang would be enough. Having already forked out for a GB, which I love, I'm loath to spend more on another axe.

I've heard and read good things about the BG parang, but I think the black and orange plastic is too much for my tastes - I'm glad you found it better for you...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redbranchwarrior]

I have a condor pack golok which i use for splitting wood cracking little tool

 

[Jimmy Bojangles]

Hi Dark Horse Dave, the tomahawk I use is one I had Dave Budd (from this site) make me. The head is approx 360g and depending on the wood the shaft is around 140-150g. It's a cracking little workhorse!
Paul Sanderson, yep, I have no problems carving with it, obviously a mora would be my first choice, and usually is, but I could carve anything I'd need for a night or two in the woods.
if you'd like to see it I'll post some pic's up tonight.
cheers

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Hi Dark Horse Dave, the tomahawk I use is one I had Dave Budd (from this site) make me. The head is approx 360g and depending on the wood the shaft is around 140-150g. It's a cracking little workhorse!
Paul Sanderson, yep, I have no problems carving with it, obviously a mora would be my first choice, and usually is, but I could carve anything I'd need for a night or two in the woods.
if you'd like to see it I'll post some pic's up tonight.
cheers

Thanks Jimmy, and yes please for those pics. I'm familiar with Dave and have a couple of his blades in fact - one as my main user.

 

[forrestdweller]

a parang is a versatile tool and i love mine- but it's not really good for splitting larger-diameter wood (but when backpacking that's not really neccesary for me) and my SFA is not that much heavier... . if you can get one i'd suggest a nata as an alternative... .

 

[Tommyd345]

I'm gonna spice this debate up abit... A kukri? (I don't own one yet but there supposed to be able to do anything) the HI website boasts you can cut up a car with one...

 

[Stew]

I'm gonna spice this debate up abit... A kukri? (I don't own one yet but there supposed to be able to do anything) the HI website boasts you can cut up a car with one...

Never needed to cut a car yet so probably not the one for me!

To be fair though, kukhri with a traditional handle would be a no go for me. Hate them in hand!

 

[PaulSanderson]

I'm gonna spice this debate up abit... A kukri? (I don't own one yet but there supposed to be able to do anything) the HI website boasts you can cut up a car with one...

Thought about a Kukhri tommy, but to be fair I am not sold on the shape...prefer the look of all of the previouosly mentioned edged tools. the Churi however is something id be keen to try, but not as a replacement for my GB...

 

[brancho]

Here is a wood splitter I knocked up for my Scouts to use the blade was roughly reprofiled to strengthen it.

The Splitter 1 by alf.branch, on Flickr